Gallery of BC Ceramics February Exhibition
Gary Merkel - diverci" TEA"

‘Tea-pots; my fascination for these simple yet complex forms,
can be described as my taking an everyday utilitarian object
and transforming it into sculptural art. Because it is an icon
of everyday living, I feel it has the potential to be a gateway
of acceptance for the viewer to see things in a different light.
To take the essential elements of the tea pot, the body, the
spout, the handle, the lid and the foot, to negate function
by abstraction of these elements, or to exaggerate any or all
of them to illustrate the separate function of any part of the
tea pot, is perhaps an appropriate metaphor relating to the
human body and mind and

that experience.

It is with this familiarity in
our minds, I intend for the
average viewer to feel more
comfortable entering the
presentation put before
him. Through whimsey,
unusualness, laughter or
even dismissal, hopefully
we transfer this to our own
everyday experience, and
are reminded of how we
may judge things or others
too hastily because of the
difference.

My choice of using the tea-
pot form to transport these
ideas seemed. the most ap-
propriate with its multi ap-
pendages. The bright col-
ours, frivolity of shape and
whimsy are also important, I feel, to evoke the more joyous,
humorous, and contented moments which allow us to ap-
preciate the subtle nuances we all share, that often go unno-
ticed, and far too often are taken for granted.

Porcelain is my choice of material for the same reason. Most
people are familiar with it as it was probably what they used.
for their most recent meal. Its pure whiteness serves as can-
vas to clearly help support my vision and ideas.

The tea-pot for me is a recurring inspirational theme in my
regular work as I always feel challenged and excited about
the seemingly endless variations on a theme. These are

February 2004

always intense and I am always assured that with each spurt
of new arrivals a series of new ideas is born.

As Lam swimming through life absorbing and looking for
inspiration, having travelled far and wide and living in a
few different countries and four different provinces, I al-
ways come up with familiar references of great variety which
[have come to accept as my unique expression, and unique
to me for having lived my life surrounded by this wonder-
ful “diversity” in both landscape, peoples and how we choose

to navigate and hold course during our journeys.

Porcelain for me is the greatest challenge
and has always taught me life lessons.
Temperaments and tolerance, patience
and. eagerness, success and failure are
only a few. Again like the concepts I
convey in my work the material and
processes translate into complete life-
style and I am gaining important
knowledge along the way to rely on and
share with others. As with a with great
cup of tea, please sit, relax and slip into
this conceptual journey and transport
yourself into a comfy cosy peace of
mind.

Potters Guild of British Columbia 5